Rotary punch for excising uniform diopsy specimens

ABSTRACT

A spring-powered instrument in the shape of a gun equipped with a cylindrical cutting blade and having a collar means to control the depth of the cut and rod means for ejecting the specimen from the cutting blade. The instrument is activated by a trigger mechanism which holds the spring means in tension until it is released.

United States Patent Schied 51 Sept. 19, 1972 [54] ROTARY PUNCH FOREXCISING UNIFORM DIOPSY SPECIMENS [72] Inventor: Robert J. Schied, 7660Berry Dr.,

Pasadena, Md. 2 1 I22 [22] Filed: April 29, 1971 [2]] Appl. No.2 138,517

[52] US. Cl. ..l28/2 B [Si] Int. Cl. ..A6lb 10/00 [58] Field of Search..i28/2 B, 305, 3l0; 173/163 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS2,818,852 l/l958 Kugler ..l28/2 B FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONSl,l6l,400 3/1958 France ..l28/2 B Primary Examiner-William E. KammAttorney-R. Hoffman, W. Bier and W. E. Scott 5 7 1 ABSTRACT Aspring-powered instrument in the shape of a gun equipped with acylindrical cutting blade and having a collar means to control the depthof the cut and rod means for ejecting the specimen from the cuttingblade. The instrument is activated by a trigger mechanism which holdsthe spring means in tension until it is released.

1 Claim, 2 Drawing Figures PATENTED 3E? 19 I 7 SHEET 1 OF 2 \NVENTORROBERT J. SCHlED AT TORN EY PATENTED 3.692.020

sum 2 or 2 \NVENTOR,

ROBERT J. SCI-ED ATTORNEY ROTARY PUNCH FOR EXClSlNG UNIFORM BIOPSYSPECIMENS A non-exclusive, irrevocable, royalty-free license in theinvention herein described, throughout the world for all purposes of theUnited States Government, with the power to grant sublicenses for suchpurposes, is hereby granted to the Government of the United States ofAmerica.

This invention relates to an instrument for excising uniform cutaneousbiopsy specimens from animals.

When done by conventional procedures, obtaining a skin biopsy isgenerally time consuming and often an arduous task. Also, when dealingwith large numbers of animals, the usual procedures and instruments arenot very satisfactory. For example, the customary motor driven biopsypunch requires a power supply and may leave a scar if driven too farinto the skin. Although an ordinary razor blade can be used, at leasttwo people are needed, one to hold the animal while the other takes thesample. In addition, the sample taken is usually larger than needed andit is nearly impossible to get uniform size specimens. Core biopsypunches or skin trephines are available but many people are squeamishabout using these instruments.

Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide a new, improvedinstrument for obtaining uniform cutaneous biopsy specimens.

Another object of this invention is to provide an instrument that isfast and efficient in obtaining uniform biopsy specimens.

Still another object is to provide an instrument that takes uniformsamples and causes little or no bleeding and that requires no anesthesiaand no stiches.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a biopsy gun thatcan be used to obtain uniform skin specimens from a variety of animalssuch as sheep, mink, cattle, pigs and even all kind of wild animals.

In general, the above objects are accomplished by a spring-poweredinstrument equipped with a cylindrical cutting die for cutting thebiopsy specimen, means for controlling the depth of the cut, and meansfor ejecting the specimen from the cutting die. The cutting die iseasily replaced and dies of different diameters may be used. Theinstrument is activated by a trigger mechanism which holds the springmeans in tension until it is released.

The biopsy gun of this invention is fast and efiicient, it takes uniformsamples, and causes little or no bleeding. In addition, no anesthesia orstiches are needed. The biopsy gun has been used to obtain samples froma number of animals such as sheep, cattle, pigs and mink. It has greatpotential for use with many other types of animals because it is easyand convenient to use and accomplishes its purpose rapidly andefficiently. For example, it could be used to obtain biopsy specimensfrom wild animals in Africa and Asia. it could also be used by animalbreeders to improve their stock; study of skin samples taken would helpthe breeder identify or corroborate his selections in attempting toproduce desired traits in the animal population.

A fuller understanding of the nature and objects of this invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed description of a preferredembodiment thereof when taken together with the accompanying drawings inwhich:

FlG. l is an exploded view of the components of the instrument forexcising biopsy specimens.

FIG. 2 is an elevational view with the near side of the housing removedto show the working parts assembled in operative relationship.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 it is seen that the mechanism is assembled ina pistol-like housing comprising two halves, 10 A and 10 B, which areheld together by machine screws 12. A hollow cylindrical spindle 14which supports the mechanism is journaled in anchor collar 18 which issecured within the housing and prevented from rotating by pin 20 and inbearing aperture 22 in internal wall 24.

A torque spring 26 is anchored to collar 18 and to ratchet wheel 28which is integral with spindle 14. A bushing 56 supports torque spring26 to maintain its shape. Winding knob 30 is secured to spindle 14 byset screws 32 external of the housing so that manual rotation of knob 30rotates ratchet 28 thus storing torque to spring 26. Trigger 34maintains storage of torque by pawl 36 which is biased into engagementwith teeth of ratchet 28 by spring 38. Cutting die 40 is secured to theforward end of spindle 14. Thus, it is evident that by pulling triggerthe stored torque in spring 26 rotates cutting die 40 at high speed.

In addition to cutting die 40, the cutting or excising means includesdie guard sleeve 42, compression spring 44 with spring-stop 43 andspring retaining ring 45, and threaded collar 46. Die guard sleeve 42,which normally covers die 40, is held in place by compression spring4-4. When the pistol-like instrument is held against the skin of thesubject to obtain a biopsy specimen, die guard sleeve 42 retracts intothe housing thus exposing cutting die 40. The depth of retraction isgoverned by threaded collar 46 which makes the depth of penetrationcontrollable.

Ejector rod 48 extends coaxially through spindle l4 and is held in placeby retaining nipple 50 and is biased rearward by spring 52. The forwardend of rod 48 is threaded and extends into hollow die 40. Secured to thethreaded end of rod 48 is ejector disc 54 within the die cavity. when abiopsy specimen has been taken it may be removed or ejected from cuttingdie 40 by pressing ejector rod 48.

lclaim:

I. An instrument for excising uniform biopsy specimens, comprising:

a. a housing;

b. a hollow cylindrical spindle longitudinally disposed within saidhousing, said spindle having a ratchet wheel integrally secured on itsforward portion and an anchor collar rotatably mounted on its rearportion and secured to said housing;

a torque spring axially aligned over the external surface of theaforesaid spindle and attached to the anchor collar and to the ratchetwheel;

. a winding knob for rotating the aforesaid ratchet wheel and storingtorque in the spring, said knob being circumferentially secured to thespindle immediately rearward of the aforesaid anchor collar;

. a cutting die assembly comprising:

1. a cutting die for excising a biopsy specimen threaded onto theforward end of the aforesaid spindle,

2. a die guard sleeve covering and coaxially aligned with the cuttingdie;

3. a compression spring for holding the die guard sleeve in place; and

g. a specimen ejector mechanism for ejecting biopsy specimens from theaforesaid cutting die, including an ejector rod and spring means, saidrod extending coaxially through the hollow cylindrical spindle into thecutting die and provided at its forward end with a disc.

I I I i

1. An instrument for excising uniform biopsy specimens, comprising: a. ahousing; b. a hollow cylindrical spindle longitudinally disposed withinsaid housing, said spindle having a ratchet wheel integrally secured onits forward portion and an anchor collar rotatably mounted on its rearportion and secured to said housing; c. a torque spring axially alignedover the external surface of the aforesaid spindle and attached to theanchor collar and to the ratchet wheel; d. a winding knob for rotatingthe aforesaid ratchet wheel and storing torque in the spring, said knobbeing circumferentially secured to the spindle immediately rearward ofthe aforesaid anchor collar; e. a cutting die assembly comprising:
 1. acutting die for excising a biopsy specimen threaded onto the forward endof the aforesaid spindle;
 2. a die guard sleeve covering and coaxiallyaligned with the cutting die;
 3. a compression spring for holding thedie guard sleeve in place; and
 4. a cutting die depth control collarthreaded on said sleeve for regulating the penetrating depth of thecutting die; f. an actuating mechanism including a trigger means forengaging the aforesaid ratchet wheel and maintaining storage of torquein the spring and for releasing the torque thus causing the spindle andattached cutting die to rotate at high speed; g. a specimen ejectormechanism for ejecting biopsy specimens from the aforesaid cutting die,including an ejector rod and spring means, said rod extending coaxiallythrough the hollow cylindrical spindle into the cutting die and providedat its forward end with a disc.
 2. a die guard sleeve covering andcoaxially aligned with the cutting die;
 3. a compression spring forholding the die guard sleeve in place; and
 4. a cutting die depthcontrol collar threaded on said sleeve for regulating the penetratingdepth of the cutting die; f. an actuating mechanism including a triggermeans for engaging the aforesaid ratchet wheel and maintaining storageof torque in the spring and for releasing the torque thus causing thespindle and attached cutting die to rotate at high speed; g. a specimenejector mechanism for ejecting biopsy specimens from the aforesaidcutting die, including an ejector rod and spring means, said rodextending coaxially through the hollow cylindrical spindle into thecutting die and provided at its forward end with a disc.